O Nature, you are as a mother to me,

Giving me strength and nourishing me.

I feel you near me and nearer still.

You fill me with fire - how strong is my will!

To be doing what's good is what I desire,

And I shall, for I'm filled with God's heavenly fire.

Dear Families and Friends of Golden Hill Steiner School,

What a wonderful Autumn Festival on Friday!  One could be forgiven for thinking we were celebrating Summer given the heat, but thanks to the efforts and good humour of all concerned we truly experienced a wonderful day of gratitude and courage, the hallmark qualities of this festival at GHSS.

Thank you to all the staff who prepared the children with beautiful songs to add meaning to our festival and to Bruce and Ashley for your accompaniment.

In a break from tradition, we abandoned St George and the Dragon for a story more suited to the time and place.  Many thanks to Robyn and Class 4/5 for their sharing of "The Shadow Giant".

As always, our harvest table was groaning with produce from the school garden and donated by our families.  Many thanks to Neal and the children for the produce they grew and to all of our families for your contributions.  Our donation to the Denmark Community Collective was gratefully received and they will distribute the bounty to those in our community who are in need.

Many thanks to the Class Carers for their organisation of the challenge activities and the parents that assisted in running those events in the heat.  We hope there was sufficient shade available to keep you protected.

And the highlight of our Festival, Kristi's rope bridge walk over the river.  An extra special thank you to Kristi who carries this off each year.  Due to a breakdown in communication and available volunteer assistance on the morning of the festival, Kristi was left to get the bridge ready single-handedly - a rather challenging task.  Thank you to John McMullan who came to the rescue to assist in completing the structure so the event could go ahead.

Good did come of the situation, and a depth of gratitude to those school community members who have now created a Rope Bridge committee for future festivals.

We really do depend on the support of parents and to this end I have two requests to make of families.

1. Maryann and Anton, former owners of the little IGA, donated a container of furniture and secondhand goods for us to sell as a fundraiser to assist with the development of our school, and in particular, our high school.  There are items such as bookshelves, dining tables and chairs, a sideboard, rugs, lighting - a veritable Aladdin's cave of items looking to be re-homed.  It is currently stored behind the hall and in our green room.  And additionally we have some old school chairs and desks to dispose of so we are looking for a band of parent volunteers with the time and skill set to upload items for sale to Marketplace, attend the Sunday markets to bring out items for sale or perhaps the perfect item to complete your room redecoration is waiting your collection in exchange for a donation to our fundraising efforts.  Please email the office if you are able to offer this assistance on office@goldenhill.wa.edu.au 

2. At the end of next week I am sending off the paperwork required for step 2 of a 3 step process to register for starting our Year 7 class next year.  All parents who are intending or even thinking about continuing their child's secondary education is asked to complete an Expression of Interest Form and send it to the school.  If you are able to this by the 24th of March that would be greatly appreciated, especially if you have children currently enrolled in Class 4, 5 & 6.  This is not a binding commitment but will greatly assist our planning efforts moving forward. 

Just two weeks to go until the Easter break.  In the meantime, enjoy the changeable weather!

Warmest regards,

Jacqui Hamblin

Principal